Can opener



Aug 1, 1950 H. R. RANsoM 2,517,442

GAN oPENER Filed Oct. 16, 1947 the line 4--4 of Fig. l.

Patented Aug. 1, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE y CAN OPENER Harland R. Ran'shm, Detroit, Mich.

Application October 16, 1947, Serial No. 780,275

1 claim. (c1. 30-16) This invention relates broadly to new and useful improvements in can openers.

An important object of the present invention 1s to provide a can opener having a can-piercing end which is uniquely shaped to prevent the con- ,-J tents of the can from shooting or splashing out when the can is opened.

Another object of the invention is to provide a can opener which is adapted to be applied to one end oi.` a can and wherein the can-piercing end l ,thereofis uniquely constructed and arranged to cut a segment from such end and to bend `the same into the can.

Still another object of the invention is to prorvidea can opener that will not readily slip oif y the can in use. l

Another object of the invention is to provide a can opener of the above mentioned character which will cut the segment entirely to the edge of the can so that all of the contents thereof can can thus permitting liquid contents of the can to be drunk directly therefrom if desired without danger of cutting the mouth. l

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent duringthe course of the follow ing description.

In the drawing forming a part of this speeican tion and wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same;

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a can opener embodying the invention and illustrating -the manner in which the same is applied to a can;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional. view taken on the line 3f-3 of Fig. l; and Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on The can opener embodying the present invention conveniently can be made from a single` elongated strip Ill of relatively thin sheet metal, which metal is first blanked and, their shaped by bead of a can, as shown in Fig. 1.

a conventional stamping and forming operation. Considered broadly, the can opener has a fiat, elongated top portion l2 (Fig. 2) and an integral continuous peripheral flange I4 (Fig. 1). The rearward portion A of the device comprises a handle,` and the forward portion B thereof comprises a can-engaging and piercing portion.

The handle portion A preferably is formed with forwardly tapered sides I6 and I8, :and the terminal portion thereof is rounded as at 2li. If desired, a hole 22 may be provided adjacent the free end of the handle A so that the device can be readily hung on a nail or the like when not in use. The forward operating end B has parallel sides 24 and 26 which join smoothly with and extend continuously from the tapered side por tions I6 and I8, and the terminal portion 'thereof tapers to a relatively blunt point.

The particular plan shape here shown provides a relatively large` surface for advertisements or other indicia with which devices of this character conventionally are provided. At the same time, the fiat top surface afforded by this construction provides a solid, comfortable support for the hand when the device is in use.

The portion of flange I4 `which extends along the handle portion A is continuous but relatively narrow, and the portions thereof which extend forwardly of the handle along the side portions 24 and 26 become progressively wider, as shown in Fig.` 1. At a point spaced substantially from the forward end of the device, the last mentioned flange portions are fashioned to provide a pair of laterally spaced, transversely aligned and forwardly directed hook or fulcrum elements 28, which elements are adapted to engage under the Both of the fulcrum, elements 28 preferably are bent slightly inwardly as perhaps best shown in Fig. 3. The portions 30 of flange I4 immediately forwardly of the fulcrum elements 28 are relatively narrow to provide clearance for the bead. At its pointed forward end the device is formed with an integral prong or can-piercing portion` 32, which portion extends generally at right angles from the main body of the device in the direction of the fulcrum elements 28. In this connection, it will be observed that the portions of flange I4 which are disposed forwardly of the fulcrum elements 28 extend entirely to the tip of the prong 32. As a result of this unique construction the entire forward portion of the can opener including the can-piercing claw or prong 32 is hollow and opens downwardly against the can when the implement is applied thereto (Fig. 1). If necessary, the

form and maintain such cutting edge.

3` edges of the ange portions along and extending from the prong 32 may be sharpened, as shown in Fig. 3, to facilitate piercing and cutting o-f the can.

The prong S2 extends downwardly a sufficient distance and is associated with the fulcrum elements '28 in such manner that, when the device is applied to a can as shown in the drawing with the point of the prong t2 against the top of the can, the handle A extends parallel to or slightly downwardly from the top of the can. Experience teaches that this relationship is necessary for most efficient operation and in order to maintain maximum flexibility of use.

In operation, the implement is used in the same manner as other can openers of this type. In other words, the device is rst applied to the can as shown in Fig. 1 and the handle is then swung upwardly as indicated by the arrow to force the Prong 32 through the top of the can. As the handle is swung upwardly, the device pivvots around the fulcrum points 28 and the prong 32 moves downwardly to a position against the side wall of the can, As the prong 32 advances, the sharpened ilange portions stri-ke a wedgeshaped flap from the top of the can and force it downwardiy into the can to a position alongside the cylindrical side wall thereof. By correlating the fulcrurn elements 28 and prong 32 in the manner hereinabove described, the entire cut may be made in a single quick motion. Any implement of this nature in which the handle is moved to a fully vertical position at the end of the cutting stroke is awkward to handle. In the instant device, the handle is still a long Way from vertical at the end of the cutting stroke. This facilitates manipulation of the device in use and permits the entire cutting stroke to be performed in a single quick movement.

' The continuous turned flange M imparts requisite rigidity and strength to the device even though relatively thin metal is used in its construction. It is desirable lto use as light `gauge sheet metal as possible not only for economy of manufacture but because the thin metal provides a sharp cutting edge and eliminates grinding to In this connection, I have found that if a sufliciently light gauge metal is used, a satisfactory cutting edge is provided when the implement is stamped Within my knowlege, can

or otherwise formed. openers of 'this type have heretofore been constructed in such manner that, if sufficiently light gauge metal were used to provide an initially sharp cutting edge, the implement was so flexible in use as to be entirely unsatisfactory.

Another feature of the invention resides in the shape of the cutting head B. The manner in which the flange lli follows along the prong 32 limparts an inverted canoe shape to the cutting head B and this shape prevents liquid contents of the can from shooting out when the can is opened. This phenomenon is particularly pronounced in the case of charged or carbonated beverages. It sometimes happens that considerable pressure builds up within the can and when the latter is pierced, the liquid contents shoot from the opening formed therein. I have found that the hollow piercing end which the instant construction provides obviates this difficulty and prevents the contents of the can from spattering the person using the device or objects in the vicinity of the can.

Another feature of the present invention is that the instant device cuts the can all the Way to the bead so that all of the contents can be readily poured therefrom. Also, as the prong 32 is forced into the can it turns the severed edges downwardly into the can so that, if desired, the contents thereof can be consumed directly from the can without danger of cutting the mouth.

Preferably, the edges 36 are spaced suiciently above the fulcrum elements 28 so that the implement can be applied to a bottle cap as well as a can. In yother words, the edges 30 should be onset upwardly from the fulcrum elements 28 sufficiently so that-.the latter will extend under the crimped skirt portion of a conventional bottle cap when the edges 30 are placed on topof the cap. In this manner the versatility of the device is increased.

It is an important feature of this invention that both the can opener and bottle rcap remover are located at one end of the device. This arrangement does not detract from the appearance of the handle as in conventional devices of 'this nature and it leaves no sharp corners or edges to injure the hand of the user when the device is in use.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a, preferred example of the same and that various changes in the size, shape yand arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or th scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A can opener comprising a one-piece .sheetmetal body including a handle, bent edges on vsaid body, fulcrurn portions formed in said .bent

' ly along the edges of the top from the fulcrum `portions to forward end of said top and 'formed at the end with a lateral pronglilre projection which extends away from the top and is adapted to pierce the top of the can, said bent edges at the can-piercing end forming an inverted, cupped, can-piercing head arranged to vreceive and shaped to conne contents of the that may spurt therefrom when the top of the can is pierced by said projection.

HARLAND R. RANSOM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,164,793 Dodd Dec. 21, 1915 1,676,648 I-Iardiman July 10, 1928 1,913,816 Osborne June 13, 1933 2,002,173 Dougherty May 21, 1935 2,030,090 Mumaugh May 11, 1937 2,238,178 McCoy Apr. 15, 1941 2,420,402 Schigut May 13, 1947 

